RATINGS
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★
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★★★
★★★
★★★★
★★★★
★★★★★
RG
The Lone Child
Anna George
Neve Ayres has returned
home, back to the coast
of the Mornington Peninsula,
where she
spent so much time as a
child – until the death
of her mother.
When her life took a sharp sideways turn
after the birth of her son and the departure of
her lover – who returned to his wife – Neve
retreated to the familiar, anonymous safety of
this coastal community.
Her peace is shattered early one morning
when she sees a lonely girl standing on the
shoreline, preparing to throw herself into the
swirling ocean currents. Reaching out, she
drags her to shore. The girl, Jessie, returns to
her parents, only to show up on Neve’s back
doorstep a few days later, tired, hungry and
cold. The longer she stays with Neve, the
more Neve thinks that she would be doing
the best by the child by keeping her hidden
from parents, who allow their child to feel so
abandoned. But Jessie’s mother is looking for
her and will do anything to get her back.
Neve wants to save Jessie and herself, but the
cost may be too great.
An atmospheric and intriguing read,
this novel takes readers along on Neve’s
journey. Neve struggles to come to terms
with her own sense of loss at the death of
her mother as she faces the prospect of
raising her son alone. Her fears are brought
sharply into focus as she faces the prospect
of caring for a lost child as well as dealing
with her feelings of being abandoned herself
by those in her life who she loved the most.
★★★★ Viking $29.99
Reviewed by David Johnson
The Whistler
John Grisham
American lawyer Greg Myers
approaches the Florida Board
on Judicial Conduct to lodge a
complaint about a corrupt judge.
His client, a state employee, can
claim – once the corruption has
been proved – millions of dollars
under the Florida Whistleblower Statute.
Michael Geismar, CEO of the board,
arranges for Lacy Stoltz and Hugo Hatch to
make an initial investigation and report back.
The story that Myers tells involves bribery,
extortion, intimidation, rigged trials, two
murders and one wrongful conviction.
The judicial conduct they are working on
–
a typical case, apparently – involves a judge
who is fighting alcoholism, refuses to schedule
hearings until after lunch, and often forgets to
turn up. They are trying to negotiate a solution
where the judge can retire with dignity. But
a complaint that includes two murders is
way outside their field of expertise.
Lacy and Hugo are lawyers, not law
enforcement officers.
Michael Geismar decides that
the complaint should be pursued –
a decision that will haunt him to the
day he dies. Naive r isks, trauma and
tears will eventually result in greater
awareness of the dangers and a more
realistic appreciation of cr iminal
depravity. It also results in an exhilarating
page-turner for the reader.
My one suggestion for the author is that
he examine the need for repetition. One of
Lacy’s thoughts is given to the reader. This
thought is repeated later when she mentions
it to another character. Further on, an update
is give when a new character appears. This
technique is ideal for readers who read a few
pages and return in a week’s time, but it’s
unnecessary for anyone who devours a book
within a few days.
★★★★ Hodder $19.99
Reviewed by Clive Hodges
under the Florida Whistleblower Statute.
way outside their field of expertise.
Lacy and Hugo are lawyers, not law
enforcement officers.
the complaint should be pursued –
a decision that will haunt him to the
day he dies. Naive risks, trauma and
tears will eventually result in greater
awareness of the dangers and a more
realistic appreciation of cr iminal
depravity. It also results in an exhilarating
The Lone Child
Anna George
Nof the Mornington Peninsula,
where she
spent so much time as a
child – until the death
of her mother.
AUSTRALIAN
AUTHOR
GOOD READING AUGUST 2017 41
GENERAL FICTION
WOM
word of mouth